Guterres and Washington accelerate the path toward a solution to the Western Sahara conflict
The retreat, which took place from January 18 to 20, was attended by Secretary-General António Guterres, his personal envoy for the Western Sahara conflict, Staffan de Mistura, and Special Representative Alexander Ivanko, head of the MINURSO mission, along with several heads of UN agencies and their special representatives.
This annual retreat, organized periodically by UN secretaries-general, provides an opportunity for consultation and exchange of views on global peace and security issues, a review of the latest developments in peacekeeping operations, and an assessment of the efforts of Personal Envoys to resolve complex conflicts around the world.
These consultations took place in an international context characterized by intense diplomatic activity in relation to the Western Sahara conflict, under the coordination of the UN and the US, with the aim of paving the way for the next rounds of talks involving the parties to the conflict, mainly Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front.
The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, continues to coordinate with the US administration to finalize behind-the-scenes consultations, which are expected to lead to separate meetings with representatives of the four parties. The goal is to reach agreement on the format, location, and participants of a formal meeting, as part of the UN's efforts to advance the settlement process.
UN Resolution 2797, adopted in October 2015, represents a significant change in the Western Sahara issue. It endorses the Moroccan initiative for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the “most realistic and viable solution” and urges the parties to engage in serious negotiations based on it.
The resolution also renewed MINURSO's mandate for one year, which is considered a diplomatic victory for Morocco and a setback for the referendum option in favor of autonomy as the fundamental framework for a solution.
Dr. Amal Jabbour. Journalist from Jordan